Railway truck



Oct. 11, 1938;. Q I D. s. BARROWS 2,132,384

RAILWAY TRUCK Original Filed Aug. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1938. D, BARROWS 2,132,384

RAILWAY TRUCK Original Filed Aug. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Jfiarraws UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY TRUCK Donald s. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Original application August 22, 1932, Serial No. 629,953. Divided and this application December 2, 1937, Serial No. 177,761

20 Claims. (Cl. 105197.1)

This is a divisional application of my co- Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the pending application Serial No. 629,953, filed arrows.

August 22, 1932, and entitled Railway trucks. Figure is a side elevational view of one of This invention relates to railway vehicles and the locking shims or adapter castings, removed 5 more particularly to trucks and the construcfrom the associated truck parts. 5 tion of the associated parts thereof. Referring now to the drawings in detail, where- The principal object of the invention, conin like parts are designated by like reference sidered generally, is to improve the construction characters, there is shown a portion of a railway of railway trucks, and particularly the iissecivehicle truck 8' comprising a pair of side frames d pa ts thereof, 80 s to p de a desired 2 only one of which is fragmentarily illustrated. l0 predetermined degree of flexibility therein. Each Side frame comprises a compression A feature of the invention is the provision of a ber 3b a tension member 4b and bolster guide railway truck in which the bolster 1s interlocked columns b Spacing intermediate portions of the Wlth an adapter casting sfhlm at a h end compression and tension members to leave a thereof and the adapter .castmg or shlfm in bolster or window opening 6 therebetween; The gggg g s g fig g gulde columns 0 an compression member preferably comprises a web I i h cent the id e the f, A further feature of the invention is to prop i g f gg:-;1g e?? t0 forms are; ciaggelsted gingevide mxtapositioned surfaces on a bolster end 1 and associated adapter casting so as to permit a ifi Sectmn' The compresslon member has 20 horizontal angling movement of the bolster with 8 Outer ends thereof beyfmd P gmde m respect to the adapter casting and an associated Sloped downwar to umte corresponding side frame and still provide adequate bearing ends of tenslon membe?,and mtegra1)uma1 areas between said elements bores or ournal box rece1v1ng Jaws, neither of A still further feature of the invention is to whlch are Illustrated" b 25 provide, in a railway truck, spaced side frames The i mzmber an mtermedlate and a connecting spring plank, the ends of the m M pqr Ion gbenerany boxspring plank being so associated or interlocked shaped m sectmn' the upper Web 9 of Whlch with. the side frame as to provide for relative hori-' tends laterally beyond dePendmg flanges or zontal angling between each side frame and th m y Vertical Web portions l0 thereof t 3 provide a spring-seating or supporting portion corresponding end of the spring plank.

The above object and features of the invention, of aqequate or Smtable area The spnrig'seatmg as well as numerous other objects and features, Portlons beyond the flanges are deslrably inforced by triangular gussets III. The lower or ill be m t th -d i W 00 e apparen as e escr ptmn pro free ends of the web portions I0, beneath the ceeds bolster opening 6 are desirably connected and Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of the invention: ig g gzg g g gi fig g ggzg Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view 40 of a truck showing an embodiment of the invenfifi gg u shape In Sectmn outwardly of tion, a portion of the view being illustrated in The uppr web of the tension member is sectmn' formed with upper longitudinallyextending con- Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional volutions or corrugations l8" one of which is View of a truck taken along the lines of shown in section in Figure 1. Each of the con- Figure 1 and looking m the dlrection of the volutions preferably starts between the guide arrows. columns at a position adjacent the vertical center Flgule 5 15 a horlzonta! Sectlonal i taken line of the side frame and is designated by the along the lines 0f Flgure 1, looking in the numeral [3. The convolutions extend upwardly direction of the arrows and showing a portion f t b 9 d outwardly f th i d of the lower spring plate and spring .plank re-. opening, through the corresponding guide 50 moved to mo e le y illustrate One Of t e columns, to finally merge with the normal plane features. of the web .9 outwardly of the window. opening,- .Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional thereby forming a gusset and reinforcing the view of the bolster, removed from the associated angle between the horizontal and inclined portruck structure, taken albhg the lines 4-4 of tions of the tension member as well as providing 55 a substantial support for the portion of the tension member intermediate the guide columns.

Each guide column 5 comprises a web portion M which extends substantially vertical from the compression member to the tension member. The sides of each w b portion have outwardly extending flange portions l5 which hav their free edges reinforced by means of a beading I6. The flanges l5 are spaced laterally of the web portions l4 a sufficient distance so as to straddle or overlie the convolutions la in the tension member and connect with the web 9 of the tension -member on either side of the convoluted portions.

In the instant embodiment of the invention there is illustrated a frame 2' constructed as described and claimed in my prior Patent 1,652,808, dated December 13, 1927, and it will be understood that it is not the present intention to limit the invention to this particular showing.

The side frames 2 are connected together ad- J'acent their lower portions by means of a spring plank 51, each end of which is desirably corrugated or convoluted upwardly, as indicated at 58, to correspond substantially with the longitudinal convolutions or corrugations l8 of the tension member 4 When the spring plank is positioned in association with the side frame it will rest or bear on the web 9 of the tension member and nest over the convolutions l8, thereby providing a satisfactory interlock between each end of the spring plank and the asso. ciated side frame.

The interlock between the spring plank and side frame is an improvement over the usual squaring lugs which, as is well known, are relatively closely spaced and involve aperturing of the spring plank to provide for an interlock; the aperturing of the spring plank results in weakening of the plank and a possible breaking or fracture thereof when subjected to the stresses transmitted thereto during service. The improvement just described. not only avoids a strength reduction in the spring plank, which would be caused by the receiving apertures, but also places the point of ultimate resistance to undue track angularity at a maximum distance from the center of relative horizontal rotation, as most Clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

In order to provide for a limited amount of relative horizontal angling or rotation of the spring plank with respect to the side frames, the upstanding side walls 59 of the convolutions l8 desirably extend radially, or approximately so, from the vertical axis of the frame 2 or the vertical line of intersection between the, longitudinal and transverse vertical planes of the side frame. The walls 50 of the corrugated portions 58 of the spring plank are also desirably formed radial similarly to the walls 59, with the included angle between the adjacent surfaces on the walls 59 and fill corresponding substantially with the angle of permissive deviation from normal relationship between the spring plank and side frame. It will, therefore, be observed that means for a limited or predetermined amount of horizontal angling has been provided between the side frame and spring plank while at the same time ensuring that, at the extreme limits of such angling, there will be a large area of contact provided for restraining any further angling; the efliciency of such restraining contact areas will be at a maximum, as the greatest width of each area is positioned a maximum distance from the axis of relative angling,

Extending between the side frames is a loadcarrying member or bolster 36 which has an end portion l'l thereof partially occupying the upper area of the window opening 6 Interposed between each guide column 5 and the adjacent side of the bolster end is a locking shim or adapter casting 33 The construction of the associated guide columns, shims and bolster is such as to permit a horizontal angling movement of the bolster relative to the side frame so as to incorporate, in the truck structure, a desired degree of flexibility.

It will be appreciated that through the omission of the spring plankin a truck structure or, as in the present instance, through the flexibility of the spring plank one side frame will tend to lead the other side frame of the truck, which will cause the bolster to assume other than a right angle relation with the side frames. This angular movement, if not provided for, will result in line contacts between corresponding corners of the guiding surfaces of the columns, shims and bolster. As the bolster moves vertically, in such a structure, with reference to the side frames as a result of external impulses, causing movement of the supporting springs, the above-recited corners will wear progressively and speedily until sufficient bearing or contacting areas have been developed. In this undesirable process of developing wearing surfaces the preferred or predetermined clearance between the guide columns, shims and bolster has vanished, and the actual clearance has become more than that required for the proper alignment of the associated parts. In order to change or prevent this undesirable condition, the contacting surfacesof the guide columns, shims and bolster have been so constructed and arranged as to permit a limited or predetermined amount of horizontal angling movement of the bolster with respect to the side frame and at the same time provide engaging surfaces of adequate area to arrest or limit the said angling movement.

In order to accomplish this, each guide column is provided with an inwardly facing web surface 20, preferably disposed in parallel relation with the transverse axis of the truck structure, and the column flanges have outwardly facing surfaces 2| perpendicularly or angularly disposed to the web surfaces 20. Each locking shim or adapter casting 33 comprises an upstanding web 34 the outer portion of which is formed with a relatively flat or straight surface 22 coplanar with and adapted to engage the column web surface 20 upon any longitudinal movement of'the shims with respect to the guide columns. The lateral end of the shim web portion 34 of each shim desirably terminates in flanges 31 which partially overlie the column flanges IS. The shim flanges 31 have spaced, inwardly facing, surfaces 23 which are parallel with and are, adapted to engage the column flange surfaces 2| upon any relative transverse movement of the shim with respect to the side frame. The inner portion of the shim web 34* is provided with an arcuate surface 66 which is concave or cylindrical about the axis corresponding with the vertical axis of the side frame. It may be said that the surface 66 is coaxial with the vertical axis of the side frame. The shim flanges 31 are provided with outwardly facing surfaces 65 which form, in effect, continuations of the concave surface 66 and are coradial with the vertical axis of the side frame, as most clearly illustrated in Fi e 2.

The bolster end i1 is desirably notched or rethe shims with the bolster, the lugs 42', of course,

cessed at each side thereof, as indicated at 61, to accommodate the associated or adjacent web of the shims 33 The sides of the bolster end are correspondingly formed with cylindrical arcuate surfaces 68 convexly curved about an axis corresponding to the vertical axis of the side frame and with the axis of the cylindrical shim surfaces. The convex bolster surface '68 is defined by diverging surfaces 69 which are positioned adjacent the shim flange surfaces 65 and preferably coradial with the vertical axis of the side frame. The included angle between the radial shim surfaces 65 and the radial bolster sur- I it is preferred that the bolster horizontal angling movement take place between the bolster and shims on account of the juxtapositioned surfaces therebetween being especially provided for that purpose. The shims may, therefore, closely engage the guide columns with only the necessary clearance therebetween to allow a free vertical movement of the shims with respect to the columns. From the preceding it will be noted that the bolster is free to angle or rotate horizontally with respect to the side frames and that adequate bearing areas have been provided to limit the said movement.

The bolster has each end thereof desirably supported by means of four helical springs 40' and an elliptic spring or set 44 which are, in turn, supported by the spring plank and tension member and which may hereinafter be termed as a spring group. Interposed between each spring group and the underlying spring plank is a lower spring plate 6| desirably formed with upwardly extending centering collars 62 for the helical springs 40 and an approximately rectangular elliptic spring centering aperture 63 for receiving or accommodating the lower elliptic spring band 4'6 Centering plugs or spuds 63 extend downwardly from the spring plate and are positioned in accommodating pockets or apertures formed in the spring plank. Convoluted portions 6| are formed in the spring plate so as to straddle or nest over the correspondingly formed portions of the spring plank. An upper spring plate 64, interposed between the bolster and spring gr up for retaining the spring group in assembled r lation,

is preferably similar to the bottom spring plate 6 I. The upper spring plate is likewise provided with plugs 64 which are adapted to extend into corresponding pockets or apertures in the lower web Illof the bolster end.

In order to hold the shims 33 in place while at the same time providing for their convenient application and removal, each shim is preferably formed with a base or lower flange 39 which underlies a portion of the bolster and extends in to a recess or relief'II formed in the under part of the bolster. The flange overlies a portion of the bolster springs 40? positioned on the corresponding side of the transverse axis of the side frame and the associated portion of the upper spring plate 64. In the assembled structure the base or flange 39 of each shim is desirably formed with transversely spaced upstanding projections 42 fitting loosely in the .pockets 43 in the bolster lower web III to serve for interlocking fitting in the aperture 43 with sufficient clearance to allow for the permissible angling movement between the bolster and shims. As previously stated, the bolster end has its lower web III offset upwardly or recessed, as at I I, to receive the base or flange 39 of the shims and ensure that the lower surfaces of the bases or flanges, when in position, will be in substantially the same horizontal plane as the lower or top spring plate engaging surface of the lower web '10. The inner edge I2 of each shim base 39 desirably has its lateral end portions straight or substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the truck structure, as indicated at I4, while the intermediate portion thereof is concavely curved and coaxial with the vertical axis of the side frame, as indicated at I3.

' Each of the inner defining surfaces of the bolster recess II or shoulder portions I5, provided on the lower web III, is correspondingly formed with a convexly curved portion 24 positioned adjacent and coaxial with the concave surface I3 of the" shim base, while the portions 25 are continued at the free ends of the convex portion as substanside frame adapted to be connected to and disconnected from an associated bolster with locking shims disposed between the sides of the bolster and the guide columns and ofsuch construction that a limited amount of horizontal angling between the bolster and side frame is permitted with the maintenance of contacting areas regardless of bolster angularity. It will be further observed that, in the truck structure which has a predetermined as well as permissible degree of flexibility incorporated therein, the spring plank forms a connection between the bottom portion of the spaced side frames and is so constructed as to interlock with the side frames as well as permit a relative horizontal angling movement of the spring plank with respect to the side frames and with suitable engaging areas therebetween to limit the said angling movement.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations and modifications may be made thereto without departing from within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. i

I I claim:

1. In a flexible railway truck, in combination, a

pair of side frames having a bolster opening defined by guide columns, a bolster having an end portion extending into said opening and adapted to angle horizontally with respect to said frames, shims interposed between said bolster'and guide columns, a spring plank connecting said side frames adjacent the lower portions thereof, said shims adapted to lock the bolster to the side frame and comprising a base and a web portion upstanding therefrom, oneside of said Web portion being cylindrically concave and terminating in surfaces radial with respect to the axis of the concave surface, the other side of said web being provided with straight faces forming a notch for interlocking with respect to the guide columns, and said spring plank being provided with end portions corrugated and interlocked with corresponding corrugations on said frame, said corru that there has been devised, a truck involving a gations involving surfaces approximately radial with the vertical axis of the side frame and nor mally spaced to correspond with a permissible horizontal angling therebetween, whereby a definite interlock is provided between the plank and frames with the provision of adequate restraining areas for limiting said angling movement.

2. A railway truck comprising a pair of side frames, each of said frames involving guide columns spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, a bolster with its ends received between said guide columns, said columns each comprising a transverse web and side flanges, said side flanges adjacent the bolster ends having outer surfaces formed on planes substantially parallel to thelongitudinal vertical plane of said frame, and a locking shim disposed 'between each side of the bolster and the adjacent guide column, each shim having an outer surface substantially parallel to the adjacent guide column surface with outstanding flanges embracing said guide column for interlocking said shim thereto and an inner surface cylindrically curved about the vertical axis of the frame, and a shim engaging surface on the bolster being correspondingly curved for allowing horizontal angling while maintaining the same area of contact regardless of bolster angularity.

3. A shim adapted to lock a bolster to an associated side frame comprising a base web and a portion upstanding therefrom, one side of said upstanding portion being cylindrically concave and terminating in surfaces radial with respect to the axis of said concave surface, the other side of said shim being provided with straight surfaces forming a notch for interlocking with respect to a guide column.

4. A shim adapted to lock a bolster to an associated side frame comprising a base and a portion upstanding therefrom, one side of said upstanding portion being cylindrically curved and terminating in surfaces radial with respect to the axis of said curved surface, the other side of said shim being provided with substantially flat surfaces disposed at approximately right angles to one another for interlocking purposes. I

5. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, a bolster received in said bolster opening, a spring plank received in said bolster opening below said bolster, said spring plank resting on the tension member of said frame, and said tension member being formed with upwardly and longitudinally extending embossments received in corresponding embossments in said plank, said embossments having upright faces adapted to engage and disposed substantially radial with respect to the vertical axis of the frame, said surfaces being normally disposed with angular clearance therebetween corresponding to the permissible angling of the frame with respect to said plank and bolster.

6. In a railway truck, in combination,-a pair of side frames, a spring plank connecting said frames and with its ends corrugated and interlocking with corresponding corrugations on said frames, said corrugations involving surfaces approximately radial about the axis of relative angling and normally spaced to correspond with the permissible horizontal angling, whereby a definite interlock is provided between the plank and frames with the provision of horizontal angling therebetween and adequate restraining areas for limiting such angling.

'7. In a railway truck, in combination, a pair of side frames, each comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, a bolster received in said opening, a spring plank having an end portion thereof positioned in said opening below said bolster and resting on said tension member, said tension member being formed with upwardly extending spaced corrugations, spaced corrugations in said spring plank in straddling relation with said tension member corrugations, said corrugations having upright faces adapted to engage and disposed substantially radial with respect to the vertical axis of the frame, the included angle between said faces being substantially equal to the permissible horizontal angling movement of the spring plank with respect to the side frame.

8. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a spring plank supported thereby,

spaced corrugations on said frame, spaced corrugations on said spring plank adapted to nest over said side frame corrugations, said corrugations having upright faces in spaced relation and adapted to engage upon relative horizontal angling movement of said spring plank with respect to the side frame, all of said faces being disposed substantially radial with respect to the vertical axis of said side frame, the included angle between adjacent faces being substantially equal to the permissible angling movement of said plank.

9. A spring plank in combination with spaced side frames, said spring plank having corrugated portions spaced apart adjacent each end thereof, said corrugated portions having upright faces substantially radial with respect to the vertical axis of the associated side frame and angularly disposed to corresponding faces on said associated side frame so as to permit a horizontal angling movement of the plank with respect to the frame.

10. In a side frame, in combination with a spring plank, said side frame having a compression member, a tension member, guide columns spacing said members and spaced to form a bolster opening, corrugated portions on said tension member extending longitudinally of said side frame from a point adjacent the vertical axis thereof, said corrugations having upright faces substantially coradial with said vertical axis and angularly disposed to corresponding faces of said spring plank so as to permit a horizontal angling movement of said spring plank with respect to the side frame.

11. In a railway truck, in combination, a side framehaving a compression and tension member connected by spaced guide columns to form a bolster opening therebetween, a bolster received in said opening, a nest. of helical and elliptic springs supporting said bolster from said tension member, shims interposed between said bolster and guide columns, said shims comprising a base and a portion upstanding therefrom, one side of said upstanding portion being cylindrically curved and terminating in surfaces coradial with the vertical axis of said curved surfaces, the other side of said shim being provided with substantially fiat surfaces disposed at approximately right angles to one another and positioned adjacent correspondingly formed surfaces on said guide columns.

12. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a compression and-p. tension memside of said upstanding portion being cylindrically curved and terminating in surfaces coradial with the vertical axis of said curved surfaces, the other side of said shim being provided with substantially fiat surfaces disposed at approximately right angles to one another and positioned adjacent correspondingly formed surfaces on said guide columns, said shim base being positioned in a recess formed in the bolster and provided with a concave surface juxtapositioned with respect to a correspondingly formed surface in said recess.

13. A shim adapted to lock a bolster to an associated side frame and comprising a base and an upstanding portion, one side of said upstanding portion being cylindrically concave and terminating in surfaces radial with respect to the axis of said concave surface, the other side of said shim being provided with straight surfaces forming a notch for interlocking with respect to a guide column, and said base having a concave surface coaxial with said concave surface of said upstanding portion.

14. A shim adapted to lock a bolster to an associated side frame and comprising a base and an upstanding flange, one side surface of said flange being concave and cylindrically curved and terminating in surfaces radial with respect to the axis of said cylindrical surface, said base having a concave surface coaxial with said flange concave surface about a vertical axis.

15. A shim adapted to lock a bolster to an associated side frame comprising a base and a flange upstanding from adjacent one edge thereof, said flange and base having spaced side cylindrical concave surfaces coaxial about a vertical axis.

16. A spring plank in combination with a side frame, said spring plank having corrugated portions spaced apart and adjacent an end thereof, said corrugations having substantially upright faces substantially radial with respect to the vertical axis of said side frame and angularly disposed to corresponding faces on said side frame so as to permit a horizontal angling movement of the plank with respect to the frame.

17. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame comprising spaced guide columns defining a window opening, a bolster received in said opening, shims adapted to lock the bolster-in the opening and comprising a. base underlying a portion of the bolster and a web interposed between the bolster and guide columns, one surface of said web being cylindrically curved and terminating in surfaces coradial with the vertical axis of said cylindrical surface, said bolster being correspondingly formed and adapted to engage said curved and radial surfaces, another surface of said shim being provided with substantially flat surfaces disposedat approximately right angles to one.an0ther and positioned adjacent correspondingly formed surfaces on said guide columns, and upstanding spaced lugs on said shim base extending into recesses formed in said bolster.

18. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame comprising spaced guide columns defining a window opening therein, a bolster having an end portion received in said opening, shims adapted to lock the bolster in said opening having a base underlying a portion of'said bolster and an upright stem interposed between said bolster and guide columns, one side of said stems being cylindrically concave and terminating in surfaces radial with respect to the axis of said concave surfaces, the other side of said stems being provided with straight surfaces forming a notch for interlocking with respect to the guide columns, and said base having a concave surface coaxial with said concave web surface and positioned adjacent a correspondingly formed convex surface in said bolster.

19. A bolster having spaced cylindrically convex coaxial surfaces formed adjacent each end thereof, spaced radial surfaces defining said con" vex surfaces and radial with respect to the axis of said convex surfaces, spaced recesses on the underside of the bolster adjacent each end thereof, and convex surfaces in saidrecesses coaxial with said cylindrical surfaces.

20. A shim adapted to look a bolster to an associated side frame comprising a base adapted to underlie said bolster and an upstanding web, spaced flanges adjacent the sides of the web, said web and flanges having one side thereof formed with substantially straight surfaces to form a notch for interlocking with respect to a guide.

column, the opposite side of said web and flanges having a cylindrically concave web surface terminating in flange surfaces radial with respect to the axis of said concave surface, and upstanding lugs on said base adapted to extend into correspondingly formed apertures in said bolster.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

